FRESH STRAWBERRY MOUSSE



1/2 Cup Boiling Water

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 Envelopes Unflavored Gelatin

1/2 Cup Orange Juice

4 Cups Fresh Strawberries, Rinsed & Hulled

6 Drops Red Food Coloring

1/2 Teaspoon Grated Orange Rind

1 Cup Low-Fat Cottage Cheese

1 8-Ounce Strawberry or Vanilla Yogurt

2 Tablespoons Sugar

1/4 Meringue Powder (Can be found in cake decorating aisle)

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

In a bowl, combine boiling water and 1/2 cup sugar. Set aside. Combine unflavored gelatin and orange juice in a small saucepan and set aside for 5 minutes to soften. Stir mixture 1-1/2 to 2 minutes over low heat, or until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat and set aside to cool



In a bowl, combine strawberries and orange rind. Crush berries with fork or potato masher. Pour cooled gelatin mixture over all and stir well. Refrigerate until slightly thickened.



In a blender or work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine cottage cheese, yogurt and 2 tablespoons sugar. Process until smooth. Remove strawberry mixture from refrigerator and fold cottage cheese mixture into it. Refrigerate mixture again. Add meringue powder to reserved sugar and water mixture. Beat until soft peaks form. Add vanilla and food coloring and beat mixture one minute more. Remove strawberry and cheese mixture from refrigerator. Stir half of meringue into it with rubber spatula, then fold in remainder of meringue.



- Sponsored by White County Medical Center